24?
Thoreau turned his attention to publishing A Week on the Concord and Merrimack Rivers (originally titled A Chit-Chat with Nature). It wasthe narrative of a trip he took with his beloved brother, John, who had since died. Thoreau couldn’t find a publisher, and ended up publishing it himself. It was a total flop. Out of an edition of 1,000 copies, he sold just 200 and gave away 75. In 1853, the printer decided the books were taking up too much space in the cellar and sent them back to Thoreau in a wagon. He recorded in his journal: “I have now a library of nearly 900 volumes, over 700 of which I wrote myself. Is it not well that the author should behold the fruits of his labor? My works are piled up on one side of my chamber half as high as my head […] I believe that this result is more inspiring and better for me than if a thousand had bought my wares. It affects my privacy less and leaves me freer.”